VANCOUVER – Twenty-two years after a trio of teenagers saved a man from nearly-drowning in the Chehalis River, Facebook reconnected them.
Rick Curiston was only 13 years old when he and his two cousins, Jamie Johnson and Eddie Carter, helped Ken Johansen and Robert Fasenko after they got into some trouble.
Johansen and Fasenko were 20 and 25 years old at the time. “22 years later our paths have crossed,” says Curiston. “It’s crazy.”
The three teens were inspired by the TV show Rescue 911. “We thought ‘hey we could be on that show, 911, let’s help those guys,” says Curiston, recalling the events of that day.
Johansen and Fasenko were in a dinghy on the river when it flipped over in the rapids. Johansen dislocated his shoulder and while Carter ran for help, Johnson and Curiston helped Fasenko keep Johansen awake by asking him questions and helping the medical team when they arrived.
The boys received numerous awards for their efforts and a treat. “We got off school for a day to go to the water slides,” says Curiston. “That was the best part.”
Their paths have not crossed since, but recently Curiston was looking at the ‘other’ inbox of his Facebook account and noticed a message from Johansen asking if he was the boy who helped save him more than two decades ago.
Last Saturday the four met up for a reunion at the spot on the Chehalis River where the incident happened. Fasenko has not been in touch with Johansen recently.
The four spent the day catching up and fishing. “Kind of just guys hanging out,” says Curiston. “No one caught any fish, typical day.”
They have now vowed to keep in touch and meet up again.
“It was a really good day,” says Curiston.
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